It is not necessary, in answer to an inquiry from the cessarily be to find and describe all which exists there, naval committee of the senate, to detail the extent of our and as far to the south as circumstances would permit commercial interests in the Pacific, the manner in which them safely and prudently to go. But they would be lithey are prosecuted, nor their dangers and losses. Tomited on this point, as well as others by the object of the protect and promote them, by acquiring correct informa- resolution itself, and would be directed to avoid with tion, which would render their prosecution more safe, care the difficulty which has so often occurred to explorand their extension more easy, would be the effect of ex- ing expeditions, of being closed up in ice, and remainecuting skilfully the purpose of the resolution. ing from that cause stationary for several weeks or months. Enough would be tound for them to do in the milder latitudes during the winter months. 2nd. What has been done?

In executing the resolution, if no further direction should be given by congress, and no appropriation made, it was the intention of the department to send out one vessel only, the Peacock, which is one of the smallest Orders were given to repair the Peacock for the expesloops of war, with proper instructions to make the ex-dition, and these repairs have been made. aminations called for. In this vessel would be sent skilful | Officers have been ordered to hold themselves in reanaval officers with an astronomer, selected either from diness, sufficient in number and skill for the vessel and among the officers, or among the citizens, with proper the object. books and instruments, to fix by accurate observation, the true situation of the islands, &c, to be examined. The naval officers would be directed to perform in the best manner in their power, the survey's, drafts, &c. which might be required.

In the instructions, directions would be given to procure information of the present state of our commerce, the difficulties and dangers to which it is subjected, with the best means of protecting and cularging it, and any other information which might fall in their way, and which would be profitable to the nation.

These would necessarily limit the duties to be performed in a single vessel, but in performing these there would be great delay and hazard, and the result would be much less satisfactory than is to be desired. To avoid these necessary and inevitable consequences of sending a single vessel, the department extended its "views" further, and desiring to make the expedition useful, as well as safe to those engaged in it, an anxiety was felt that congress should, by sufficient appropriations, permit the following plan to be adopted.

That a smaller, but well appointed vessel should be added to the Peacock, for the purposes of the examination, and a provision ship to carry provisions, &c. to them, and enable them to prosecute their labors at all times and without the interruption which would arise from leaving their employments to seek them; that the following per sons should be added to the naval officers:

1. A person to examine and report upon the present state of our commerce, and the means of its extension and improvement in that region.

2. An astronomer, whose observations should not only fix accurately the positions of all places examined, but who should bring home invaluable results of observations and experiments, in every thing connected with his branch of science, and present them in such form as would demand the assent of scientific men every where. To him the naval officers would be assistants, and furnish all necessary aid.

3. A naturalist, with one or two assistants, and one or two good draftsmen and surveyors. These five or six persons would be all that would be required, in addition

to the officers of the vessels.

Should it be the will of congress to pass an appropriation bill for this object, and the expedition should be fitted out in a proper manner, no doubt is entertained that great good would result to our commerce, and the expedition be found to yield, in the end, a most profitable return to the nation, for the exenditure made. While seeking this result, it could not fail to be both gratifying and useful to make an extensive addition to our knowledge of the globe we inhabit, and to other useful and valuable branches of science, an addition to our stock of information, acquired almost without cost, and certainly without the slightest neglect of our commercial interests. instructions would be so guarded, as to secure attention in the first place, to the objects of the resolution, and other matters to be made subservient to them.

The

I do not know whether your inquiry, as to the intention to attempt a "discovery of unknown regions" may be designed to call for an expression of the views of the department in reference to sending the expedition as far us practicable towards the pole. On that point it may be answered, that the exammations both of the known and unknown islands, &c. will be, in part, in high southern latitudes, and the instructions would naturally and ne

Orders have been given to enlist seamen, of middle age and good character, and an officer has been sent to Nantucket and New Bedford, to enlist a few who are accustomed to whaling and other employments in the Pa

cific

tical and astronomical instruments and books as would Directions have been given to prepare such mathemabe required.

The proper officer has been ordered to prepare such provisions, &c. as will be required in addition to the ordi

nary provisions.

An agent has been sent to procure the best and safest information, respecting the object mentioned in the resolution, from our fellow citizens in the east, who have had most experience in the navigation of the Pacific.

An arrangement for a second vessel has been made in the manner and to the effect described in the annual report to the president.

scientific men, to procure the best practicable guides in Correspondence, to a large extent, has been held with selecting persons to be attached to the expedition, and in preparing instructions, should congress permit two vesthe important points; which have however created no seis to be sent. Arrangements have been made, on all expense, and are altogether dependent on the decision of

congress.

been made, but the individuals who will be selected, hold No appointments in the proposed scientific corps have themselves in readiness, should their appointment be permitted.

The department is ready to organize the whole expedition, the moment the legislative decision is known.

3rd. The expense incurred?

to is not yet ascertained, because the accounts have not The repairs of the Peacock. What these will amount been rendered and settled.

Directions have been given to prepare them, and if they can be procured in time will be transmitted to the committee. A very small portion of them will, however, be chargeable to the expedition.

The Peacock was very much decayed, and could not have been sent to sea without thorough repairs. The expense of these is properly chargeable to the ordinary to the vessel for the purposes of this expedition, and head of repairs of the navy. Very little has been added nothing which will be injurious in her future service in

the navy.

has not yet been settled, but which will amount probably
The expense of sending the agent to the east, which
to between 500 and $1,000.

and charts, which will amount probably to about $2,000;
The expense of the mathematical books, instruments,
but the greater part of the purchases will be useful and
necessary to the navy, in its ordinary operations, and will
be charged to contingent, under the head of instruments.
No other expense is at this moment recollected.
The orders of the officers have created none, and,
should even the decision of the house of representatives
be reversed, and the Peacock itself not be sent, what-
ever else has been done, will be useful in the regular ope-
rations of the navy.

The number and grade of the officers who hold themselves in readiness, and will go in the Peacock, are the same as on other service.

4th. The expense to be incurred?

1st. If the Peacock only be sent, the expense of that vessel will not be much greater than it would be if em

it take to examine them; and, as it is believed that these are very numerous, it would be uncandid to pretend that a short period would be sufficient.

ployed in any ordinary cruise; the pay of the officers will be received by them, whether engaged in this expedition, on leave of absence, or some other duty. The only additional cost to the government, will be in the books and But there is a consideration connected with this view, instruments, in some extra provisions, and in paying an which relieves it from some of its objections; the necesastronomer, should one be added It is not to be doubt-sity for the expedition is in exact proportion to the extent of examinations to he made, and to our ignorance of the objects to be examined.

ed that the cost of supporting a vessel in that ocean, and engaged in such pursuits, may be somewhat greater than if she were cruising on a cheap station near home; but the augmentation will not be large, and cannot be accu rately estimated.

It is believed that two or three years, steadily employ. ed, would accomplish most of the "objects of the resoiution." I am, very respectfully, &c. SAML. L. SOUTHARD.

Chairman of the naval committee, senate.

If the Peacock be not sent, she will doubtless be ordered on some other service connected with the protection Hon. ROBERT Y. HAYNE, of our commercial and other interests; and hence the difference to the government, as to expense, will be very small. I do not send an estimate of the annual support of such a vessel at sea, because it has heretofore been repeatedly communicated to congress.

2d. If another small vessel be sent, it will be officered and manned in the usual mode, and the expense that which is common to vessels of her size.

3d. If the expedition be prepared, in all respects, in conformity to the views and wishes of the department, there will be added the cost and expense of the provision ship, an estimate of which is not sent, because the price! has not been ascertained. The whole expense of such a vessel, at a safe calculation, will fall short of $15,000. Like the others, she will be under the command of naval officers, who may, at times, be able to aid in the work of the expedition.

4th. The pay of five or six persons, who will be chosen from civil life, and whose average compensation may be estimated at about $1,600, some being considerably more and others less than that sum.

5th. About two or three thousand dollars for books and instruments for their use.

The sum of $50,000, mentioned in the bill, which has passed the house of representatives, will be sufficient to enable the department to fit out the expedition in a satisfactory manner; and thers will be no further expense incurred, except the support of the vessels in subsequent years. Unless, indeed, it shall be the will of congress, as I do not doubt that it will, to make some small additions to the pay of those employed, when they return, should their services and sufferings have been severe, and the expedition honorable and profitable in its result to the nation; an issue confidently anticipated by its fiends. 5th. The time required to accomplish the object? This must depend on two circumstances: 1. The extent of the surveys to be made. 2. The number of vessels employed.

TWENTIETH CONGRESS-2d SESSION.

SENATE.

February 19. After reading the journal of yesterday, the senate proceeded, agreeably to the special order of the day, to an election for a printer to execute the senate work for the next congress. The whole number of votes given in was 40-necessary to a choice 21; of which Duff Green had 24, and Gales and Seaton 16: Whereupon, Duff Green was declared to be duly elected. Mr. Benton presented several memorials, &c. of the legislature of Missouri, among them certain resolutions on the expediency of amending the constitution so that the election of president may be made directly by the people, without any intervening agency.

The chair communicated the credentials of George M. Bibb, elected a senator of the United States for the state of Kentucky, for six years from the 4th day of March next; which was laid on the table.

The chair communicated a letter from the secretary of the treasury, transmitting statements, prepared in obe dience to the act of the 10th February, 1820, "to provide for obtaming accurate statements of the foreign commerce of the United States;" when,

On motion of Mr. Sanford,

It was ordered that one thousand additional copies of the said document be printed for the use of the senate.

The chair also communicated another letter from the secretary of the treasury, transmitting an abstract of the official emoluments and expenditures of the officers of the customs for the year 1828, who have made their returns to the treasury department; which was read. A similar communication was received by the house.]

Mr. Hendricks, from the committee on roads and canals, reported a bill authorizing the secretary of the treasury to subscribe for 2,500 shares in the stock of the S. Carolina rail road and canal company; which was read, and passed to a second reading.

Bills of the following titles were read the third time, and passed:

If it be required to fix the true situation and description of all the coasts, islands &c. m the Pacific and South sea, it cannot be accomplished within several years: certainly not within the period during which one expedition ought to be absent. But a very large, and much the most important portion of the Southern Pacific, (into "To revive and continue in force the several acts mak. which our enterprising fellow citizens go, in pursuit of ing provision for the extinguishment of the debt due to commercial objects, and which is least correctly known the United States by the purchasers of the public lands;" and laid down on our charts, and therefore most import- "for the relief of Payson Perrin;" "for the relief of Auant to be examined), may be thoroughly explored within gustus Aspinwall;" and "for the relief of Robert L. Kentwo or three years, which is the proper period for an ex-non;" the two first of which were sent to the other house pedition to be absent, and that to which the present one for concurrence. would be limited by the department Whether another Several private bills having been ordered to be engrossshould be sent out after its return, will depend upon the ed, and a number received from the house referred to results of this, and may well be left to the future for de-appropriate committees, cision.

On motion of Mr. Berrien, the senate proceeded again to the consideration of executive business, and sat with closed doors until half past 4 o'clock, when they adjourned.

The bill for the preservation and repair of the CumIf one vessel be sent alone, it will not be able to accom-berland road," which passed the house to-day, was read plish all that could be desired. If two be sent, and they and passed to a second reading. are so provided that they may be constantly engaged in the higher latitudes, when the season will permit, and in the lower latitudes, when driven back from the higher, it is believed that accurate charts may be made of many degrees of latitude, within two years and a halt, and all February 20. The chair submitted a letter from the scientific objects connected with the expedition, be satis-postmaster general, transmitting a list of the contracts for factorily advanced. It is not to be doubted that the two the year 1828. vessels will perform more than double the amount of actual surveys which could be made by one, independent of all considerations connected with matters of science.

You will perceive that. upon this point of time, no convincing speculation can be presented; it must be mexact proportion to the labor to be performed. The more coasts, islands, &c. there are to examine, the longer will

Mr. Ruggles, from the committee on claims reported the bill for the relief of the mayor and city council of Balumore; and the bill authorizing the treasury department to pay to the state of Pennsylvania a debt due to that state, severally without amendment.

Mr. Smith, of Maryland, from the committee on finance, to which was referred certain resolutions on the 12th of

"And be it further enacted, That the president, by and One thousand extra copies of the report were ordered with the advice of the senate, be authorised to appoint two to be printed. On the motion to print, Mr Mc Lane, scientific persons and two assistants, to be employed unsaid that, to the conclusion of the report in the first reso-der the direction of the officers of the navy, in making lution to which it related, he dissented from a majority the necessary observations, examinations, and surveys, of the committee. The report in regard to the other connected with this subject; and that each of said scienresolutions, independent of its reasoning and the ground tific persons shall, while so employed, receive an annual on which the conclusions were predicated, had his as salary of two thousand dollars, and two ations per day; and each of said assistants shall receive an annual salary of twelve hundred dollars and two rations per day. "And be it further enacted, That the sum of thousand dollars be, and the same is herchy appropriated, for the purpose of carrying this act into effect."

accompanied with voluminous documents. He moved, the honor of the United States, was highly commenda that the consideration of the report be postponed until ble. He considered himself justified in resorting to any Monday next, and that, in the mean while, it be printed. means which are not unlawful, nor dishonorable, to obMr. Whipple moved the printing of the documents, tain the passage of his proposition. He put the supposiand supported the motion in a short speech. Mr. Lit- tion that there was a proposition in a British convention tle inquired whether the documents were referred to in to make the king an office to be given by election, and askthe report, to which Mr. Hamilton replying in the neg-ed if the reasons he had assigned might not be pressed on ative, the motion of Mr. Whipple was lost. the members of that convention.

The house then resumed the consideration of the resolution offered by Mr. A. Smyth, amendatory of the constitution.

Here the hour having expired, Mr. Smyth moved to suspend the rule, which was decided in the negativeAyes 65, noes 80.

The question being on the amendment offered by Mr. The bill for the preservation and repair of the CumJ. C. Wright to the amendment offered by Mr. Condict.berland road, was then read a third time and passed, by Mr. Wright resumed his observations. He went on yeas and nays, as follows: to argue in favor of a reduction of the term of service of YEAS. Messrs. Saml. Anderson, Armstrong, Noyes senators of the United States, from six years to four. Barber, Barker, Barlow, Barney, Bartlett, Bartley, Isaac He referred to the power which resided in the senate in C. Bates, Beecher, Blake, Brent, Burges, Butman, Car. consequence of their participation in the appointing pow-ter, Chambers, Chilton, James Clark, Condiet, Coulter, er of the government; and expressed his belief that if we Crockett, Crowninshield, John Davenport, Dickinson, look back to the history of the country for instances in Dorsey, Duncan, Dwight, Everett, Findlay, Fort, Forwhich members of congress have been corrupted, we ward, Gale, Green, Gurley, Hodges, Hunt, Ingersoll, shall not find them in this house; but that we shall find Jennings, Johnson, Kerr, Lawrence, Leffler, Letcher, that senators have been expelled for corruption, and for Little, Locke, Long, Lyon, Mallary, Martindale, Marvin, endeavoring to subvert the laws of the country. Unless, Maxwell, McDuffie, M'Hatton, M'Kean, McLean, Mertherefore, we shut our eyes against the light of history, cer, Mervin, Miller, Miner, John Mitchell, Muhlenberg, we shall endeavor to carry reform into that body. By Newton, Orr, Pierce, Pierson, Plant, Ramsay, James F. the abridgement of the term of service, we shall intro- Randolph, Reed, Richardson, Russell, Sawyer, Sergeant, duce a symmetry into our government, which it now wants. Sinnickson, Sloane, Oliver H. Smith, Sprague, Sprigg, He was about to refer to the resolutions of the state of Stanberry, James S. Stevenson, Stewart, Storrs. Strong, Tennessee. Swann, Swift, Sutherland, Tracy, Ebenezer Tucker, Vance, Van Rensselaer, Varnum, Vinton, Wales, Washington, Whipple, Whittlesey, James Wilson, Ephraim K. Wilson, Wingate, John Woods, Wolf, John C. Wright, Yancey.-103.

Mr. Weems here called the gentleman from Ohio to order, for reading authorities in support of an amendment which he did not wish to prevail. The speaker decided that the gentleman from Ohio was in order. Mr. Weems then appealed from the decision of the chair, but withdrew his appeal.

NAYS.-Messrs. Addams, Alexander, Samuel C. Allen, John Anderson, P. P. Barbour, Barringer, BasMr. Wright then resumed. He read an extract from sett, Belden, Bell, Blair, Brown, Bryan, Buchanan, the resolutions passed by the legislature of Tennessee in Buck, Bunner, Cambreleng, Claiborne, John C. Clark, 1813, recommending an abridgement of the senatorial Conner, Culpeper, Daniel, Thomas Davenport, John Davis, De Graff, Desha, Drayton, Earll, Floyd of Geo. term to four years. He expressed his determination to perform his duty in spite of the efforts of the stage drivers, Fry, Gilmer, Gorham, Hallock, Hall, Hamilton, Harvey, whippers in and small fry of any party, in or out of the Haynes, Hinds, Hobbie, Hoffman, Isacks, Johns, Keese, house. Here the speaker called the gentleman from Kremer, Lecompte, Lea, Lumpkin, Magee, Marable, Ohio, to order. Mr. Wright then recapitulated the al-Markell, Maynard, McCoy, M'Intire, Thomas R. Mitchleged causes of complaint on the part of the people, in ell, Gabriel Moore, Nuckolls, O'Brien, Owen, Phelps, reference to the election of 1825; and asked if the gen- der Smyth, Stower, Taber, Taliaferro, Taylor, Thomp Polk, John Randolph, Rives, Roane, Shepperd, Alexantleman from Virginia proposed to apply a remedy to the evils complained of. He did not regard the proposition liffe, Wilde, Williams, John J. Wood, S. Wood, Woodson, Starling Tucker, Turner, Verplank, Weems, Wickas presenting a sufficient remedy; and therefore, although he himself did not desire to seethe constitution amend

ed, yet if it was to be done, he would desire to have it done as effectually as possible. He disclaimed any intention to show disrespect to any member of the floor; and would not follow the example of the gentleman from Virginia, by moving the previous question in order to shut out all reply. He had laid the anonymous let ters, which he had read, before the house, under a sense of duty. He asked that the question on his amendment may be taken separately, and by ayes and noes.

The ayes and noes were then ordered.

cock.-79.

bar, when the yeas and nays were called, permission to The house refused Mr. Archer, who was without the record his name in opposition to the bill.

The speaker laid before the house a letter from the secretary of the treasury, transmitting the annual statement the year 1828, which letter and statement were laid on of the commerce and navigation of the United States for the table, and six thousand copies thereof were ordered to be printed.

The house then went into committee of the whole, and in succession, took up the general and military appropria tion bills, various amendments were offered and adopted, but on a motion that the committee rise and report the first named bill to the house, and ask leave to sit again on the second, it was discovered that a quorum was not present, various motions were now made for a call of the house, adjournment, &c. when finally, it being near five o'clock, the house adjourned.

Mr. A. Smyth then rose, and said he presumed it would not be necessary to go into the question of the authorship of certain letters. He then read the letters, and put the questions contained in them in the shape of an argument to the house. It had been charged that it was an attempt to corrupt the house. "What (said he) is the nature of my bribes?" It was merely an appeal to the honorable ambition of every member. It was merely holding out the probability of honor to men some 30 or 40 years hence, when, according to the course of nature, he should be no longer here. If he could succeed in stirring up one man to a life of virtue, he should not have lived in vain. If he could succeed in inducing many to do so, he should be a great public benefactor. He read various quotations to show how operative upon human action was the desire of promotion, and how legitimately distinction might be sought after in a democratic govern- Mr. Weems called upon the gentleman from Ohio ment. The situation of the first man in a republic could (Mr. Wright) to explain whether, in speaking of "stage only be obtained by a life of virtue. It was said he had drivers, whippers in, and the small fry of the house," he used his arguments to political opponents as well as had had any personal allusion? Mr. W. said he would friends. He adduced this as a proof of his purity of in-yield the floor to the gentleman for the purpose of maktention. He stated that his object, being to preserve ing such explanation.

Friday, Feb. 20. After the reception of reports, &c. the amendment to the constitution came up as the unfinished business of yesterday, when Mr. Smyth took the floor, and concluded his remarks m reply to Mr. Wright, and in defence of the amendment generally, and more particularly of his own course in addressing anonymous letters to members of the house, arguing to show that he could have had no bad motives, but a regard to the public good.

Mr. Wright said if he took the floor, he should take it under o conditions imposed by the gentlemen from Maryland, but with all the privileges pertaining to the possession of it.

A resolution submitted by Mr. Marvin, authorising the clerk of the house to place fifty cords of the wood purchased for the use of the house, under the direction of the overseers of the poor of Washington, to be distriThe chair decided that if the gentleman from Mary-buted gratuitously among the destitute poor of the city, land yielded the floor he must yield it altogether. Mr. was agreed to. Weems having done so, Mr. Wright said he had no explanation for the gentleman, but would offer an amend

ment, viz:

To insert in his second proposition to amend, after the words "tree white male citizens," the words "of 21 years of age."

Before any decision was had, Mr. Storrs moved to lay the amendment of Mr. Smyth, together with those of Mr. Wright, on the table.

Which motion prevailed-Ayes 118. So the subject was laid on the table.

The speaker laid before the house a letter from the post master general, transmitting a statement of the contracts made by his department during the year 1828; which was read, and laid on the table.

The speaker laid before the house a letter from the secretary of the navy, transmitting the information called for by this house on the 3d inst in relation to the navy pension fund, which letter was read and laid on the table. On motion of Mr. McDuffie, the house went into committee of the whole, and took up the military appropriation bill, Mr. Wickliffe in the chair. Mr. Forward opposed the appropriation for the armory at Harper's Ferry, and moved to strike it out of the bill, on the ground of mismanagement in the institution. A spirited debate then occurred between Messrs. Forward and Mc Coy, during which Mr. McDuffie protested against the course of discussion. Finally Mr. F's amendment was negatived without a count.

The fortification bill and the bill making appropriations for the Indian department, were next considered, and having been discussed, the naval appropriation bill was taken up, and being amended, laid aside. The bill making appropriations for certain internal improvements, occupied the house for a considerable time, when the committee rose, and the house adjourned.

Saturday, Feb. 21. After the usual preparatory business, Mr. Woods, of Ohio, from the committee on roads and canals, made a favorable report on the Baltimore and Ohio rail road company, which was read and laid on the table.

The resolution offered by Mr. Barney on the 7th inst. relative to the "British customs amendment act," was taken up, considered and agreed to.

The bill making appropriations for building light houses, and beacons, and placing buoys, and improving harbors, and directing surveys, was called up, and, after agreeing to the amendments reported on Saturday from the committee of the whole, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The bill making appropriations for the erection of certain forts, barracks, and quarters, and for other purposes, was called up. The amendments of the committee of the whole, reported on Saturday last, were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading The several appropriation bills which had been reported from the committee of the whole, were read a third time and passed.

to-morrow.

Mr. Vinton renewed his motion to strike out that clause in the general appropriation bill which provides 75,000 dollars for the survey of the public lands; and on this motion a series of explanations took place between Mr. Vinton and Messrs. Gurley and Brent, in which the latter gentlemen disclaimed all intention of reflecting on the character or motives of Mr. V., but had intended their remarks to apply to the effect only of the amendment which he had proposed. The question was then put, and the amendment rejected.

Mr. Barney moved to insert, in the bill for internal improvement, a clause for improving the entrance of Geunessee river, in New York.

The amendment was debated by Messrs. Barney, Whipple, Marvin, and Cambreleng, when the yeas and nays being taken, it was decided in the affirmative, and the amendment was agreed to.

The bill to provide for taking the fifth census of the in-. habitants of the United States was called up.

On this bill a debate of considerable extent arose. Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, moved to strike out that feature of the bill which proposes to fix the ratio of representation by dividing the population of each state by a certain number as a divisor, and declaring the quotient (throwing away fractions) to be the number of her representatives.

The motion was opposed by Messrs. Culpeper, Little, and Storrs; and supported by Messrs. Williams, Burges,, Ingersoll, Pearce, and Dwight.

The ground on which the clause in the bill was advoOn motion of Mr. Long, the house agreed to take a cated, was that it would secure a proper number of rerecess from three till five o'clock on Monday, and to de-presentatives in the house, (being expected to give about vote the evening session to the consideration of a number of specified bills.

Mr. Sawyer moved the following resolution, which was read and laid on the table:

Resolved, That the secretary of the treasury be directed to report to this house at an early day of the next session, whether a moderate seignorage may not, with propriety, be retained at the mint, as the price of coinage on the precious metal deposited there, and whether such seignorage would, in any injurious degree, affect the value on the amount of the currency.

220), and would avoid the unpleasant contest which had hitherto always occurred in fixing the ratio after the census was taken, while the numbers remain unknown, the question could be settled with calmness; but so soon as each state became aware of the exact number of her population, a struggle inust always ensue, from the desire, especially of the small states to fix the ratio in such a manner, that they should obtain the most influence. An opportunity was now afforded to avoid this sort of scramble, by settling the ratio beforehand. The grounds on which it was opposed, were, that this was anticipating the duty, and trenching upon the prerogatives of a subsequent congress-that it was fixing at random a rule by The amendment of the senate to the bill for the ap- which the small states and the old states were almost cer pointment of a surveyor for the Virginia military district,tain to suffer, and Rhode Island in particular, was in danin the state of Ohio, was read and agreed to by the house.ger of losing half her representation-that it did not beThis bill is therefore finally passed.

Several other resolutions were offered, which shall be noticed in their progress.

The appropriation bills were again considered; various amendments were offered, not necessary to specifythere was a "general scramble" for several bills, many of which were canvassed, when the committee rose, and the house adjourned.

long to congress to determine, a priori, of what number its own body should consist, nor was it right to settle a ratio of representation, the effect of which could only be known by experiment. The debate was terminated by M. Bartlett, who demanded the previous question, the ef fect of which was to preclude this item altogether, beMonday, Feb. 23. This being the day for the pre-cause it had been reported by the committee of the whole sentation of memorials, &c. upwards of seventy were presented and referred to the appropate committees. Mr. Cambreleng, from the committee on commerce, to which was referred sundry memorials recommending cash payment of duties, warehouses, and other commercial regulations, made a report; which was laid on the table.

in the shape of an amendment to the bill, and the previous question cuts off all amendments.

The previous question being seconded, put, and carri ed, the main question was put as follows:

Shall this bill be engrossed, and read a third time? which being decided in the affirmative, the bill was or dered to its third reading.